Salon doubles as gallery where hair, paintings are works of art

WALNUT CREEK — Denys Renner and Sally Ann Rodriguez can tell you their story has been about a tale of two artists.

It all began in the third grade for the Concord natives and Clayton Valley High School graduates. Though their lives took them down different paths, as adults they’ve now collaborated on what they describe to be their boldest endeavor yet.

Walk into Colorz Hair Gallery, tucked in an alley off Mt. Diablo Boulevard in Walnut Creek, and you get the feeling you’re in a gallery and not a hair salon — but it’s actually both. Colorful, whimsical paintings adorn the walls, and even decorate the reverse side of the mirrors, suspended by wires.

This was Renner’s dream.

“This is where I get to put both my passions–art and hair styling–all under one roof,” said Renner, a Pleasant Hill resident who has worked as a hairstylist for 24 years.

She’d worked at various salons until she opened Colorz in 2007. The salon depicts Renner’s artistry — her own photographs as well as hair designs and colors; Rodriguez’s paintings and the ironwork talents of Renner’s husband, Roger Nash, who built the display cabinets.

Rodriguez’s paintings have adorned the salon/gallery’s walls since its opening, and the artist is displaying a new series of paintings through December. Rodriguez, who lives in a Martinez house which she said was once used as a cannery, converted her living room into her art studio.

She said she loves to paint musicians and horses, and got her artistic awakening when she settled in Montana after taking a road trip with a friend.

Even her home was once a blank canvas that she’s since “decorated” the outside of her home with a cherry tree, grape vines, a succulent garden and banana trees.

“We’ve always wanted to do some artistic endeavor together and came up with the idea to have a gallery to showcase local artists and give unknown artists a place to get their feet wet,” Rodriguez said of Renner’s salon.

Familiar with the typical salon experience, Renner said that she envisioned a more artistic welcome for each client as they walk into her salon.

“This place was an eyesore when I first started,” Renner said. “I opened it up on a dime, collecting re-use and recycled stuff. At other salons, when you walk in, you see massive stations. I wanted it to be all about the art. I want the art and color to pop.”

Renner said that her friend’s paintings have been the perfect complement to the salon’s ambience but that the works of other local artists have blended in as if they permanently belong to the gallery. For instance, Renner has displayed the molten glass art of Kelly Keegan and often wears a pendant designed by Keegan.

The current show also features the work of artist Sharon Kurk and Martinez glass artist Nancy Slack. When there’s wall space available, Renner often hangs something from her own collection.

“A lot of pieces I own because I’ve become a collector,” she said.

Rodriguez wants people to know that art is accessible, and creating can start at any age. In 2004, when she was new to painting, she went to Mexico to live, paint and explore her artistic self.

“It just hit me one day that I could paint. I secretly wished all my life that I could paint,” Rodriguez said. “So one day, I got painting supplies and put an ad in the local paper: aspiring artist needs easel. Then I got a response from someone who said, ‘We have an easel. We’ll leave it out on the lawn.’ That’s how I got started.”

Her first painting was auctioned off for charity and now, a few years later, a gigantic painting titled “Martini Ensemble” featuring jazz musicians takes up nearly her entire studio.

Rodriguez and Renner celebrate their artistic paths at Colorz Hair Gallery.

“Anything can be art. Hairstyling is another medium of art,” said hairstylist Jenna Dyer.

Renner’s client, Susan Henderson, not only gets her hair styled at Colorz but has also purchased artwork there.

“It is quite amazing that one is able to experience art in such a surprising way — the creativity of the hairstylist along with the creativity of other artists all under the same roof,” said Henderson.